20160316

For years, I had voices for my pets. They each had their "own voice" and they spoke quite differently...Bella cursed way more than my ever patient and disciplined Riley would ever think to do.

When at home, I just spoke out in "dog voice" whenever I felt like it, or rather, whenever my dogs felt like it. Sometimes, around close friends and family, I would use "dog voice" as well. But to anyone else, not so much. In fact, one time I mentioned I used "dog voice" to a friend and he asked me what they sounded like and I couldn't do it. I was embarrassed and my whole face was red and felt like it was on fire. I just couldn't voice my animals. But in the privacy of my home, there were conversations to be had!

I miss this, and sometimes still use "dog voice" to speak for Bella and Riley from beyond the grave. Mostly Bella, mostly cursing.

However, this voice of my animals has always been around. As a kid, my stuffed animals talked, and walked, and each had its own voice. One might have guessed I would become a puppeteer one day.

My stuffed animals are mostly long gone save for the few special ones sitting on a shelf near my bed. My animals are sadly gone as well. But, there is a kid at home and that kid has a beloved stuffed dog named Boo and a beloved blanket named Mr. Snuggles. And those two characters speak plentiful. Especially Boo who loves donuts, sleeping, his own version of kung-fu that he calls kung-boo, and most important, his beloved kid. Boo, a bulldog, talks a lot and sometimes when he isn't talking the kid will say, "mom, make Boo talk and move". And so this dog comes alive with his own voice and his own character. I puppeteer him around on a lot of adventures and daily tasks and to be honest, I can't imagine doing things without the silly thing. I have even caught myself speaking in Boo's voice IN PUBLIC. Alas, it's fun, and I enjoy it, and it'll probably stick around well past my kiddo's toys too.

......what was that? What made me think of writing this down? Oh, well, yes....a colleague said the word donut, and in Boo's voice, I said aloud (as if Boo where here), "Donut, did someone say donut??"